Quiet Weekend For Blagojevich Ahead Of Sentencing
It's a quiet weekend for convicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich and his family, just days before his sentencing hearing.
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It's a quiet weekend for convicted ex-governor Rod Blagojevich and his family, just days before his sentencing hearing.
Federal prosecutors intend to ask a federal judge to sentence former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to a 15- to 20-year prison term. But defense attorneys are seeking a much lighter sentence, arguing Blagojevich never profited from the crimes on which he was convicted and caused no public harm.
The federal judge who will sentence impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges has harsh words for one of the former governor's latest legal moves.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is asking to play wiretap recordings that were previously placed under seal when he's sentenced next month.
Springfield power broker William Cellini won't get an automatic mistrial after learning that a juror in his corruption trial failed to disclose her criminal record before being picked for the jury, but a federal judge will hold a hearing on the matter.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's sentencing hearing has been scheduled for next month.
A federal judge has replaced a juror at the shakedown trial of a clout-heavy Illinois businessman and told the new jury to start deliberations from scratch.
Millionaire businessman William Cellini has decided not to take the stand during his Chicago corruption trial.
An attorney for an Illinois powerbroker on trial in the last case directly linked to a federal investigation of Rod Blagojevich sought in his opening statement Thursday to distance his client from the disgraced former governor.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's sentencing hearing – originally set for next week – has been delayed indefinitely.
Prosecutors are apparently looking to throw the book at convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich – they are estimating that he could get 30 years to life in prison.
Rod Blagojevich may have to wait for his day of reckoning. As it now stands, the former governor's scheduled sentencing date next month directly conflicts with a trial in a related case.
In a move that was fully expected, deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich is filing an appeal to overturn his conviction on corruption charges.
During a full day of cross-examination at Rod Blagojevich's corruption retrial, federal prosecutors repeatedly tried to use the former governor's own words to discredit him and paint him as dishonest.
Rod Blagojevich's defense attorneys initially planned to begin calling their first witnesses on Monday, but late Friday afternoon, court officials announced the trial will not resume until Wednesday.
If you've been following what news there is about the Blagojevich trial, you must be thinking by now that Blago is going down. Walter Jacobson is thinking that because of how unfair the judge seems to be.
Jurors in the corruption retrial of Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday heard the secretly recorded phone conversation in which the former governor calls the U.S. Senate set he is accused of trying to sell "f***ing golden."
After five days of questioning more than 100 potential jurors, the judge in the corruption retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday that there are enough qualified candidates to take the final step of seating a jury on Monday.
Jury selection was nearly completed Wednesday in the corruption retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich as more than 40 potential jurors have been deemed qualified. The judge said only a few more need to be questioned before the final step of seating a jury.
A federal judge said Tuesday that he would limit the amount of evidence that prosecutors can present about former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's spending on designer suits and other clothes when testimony begins at his retrial.
The judge in the retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday that it appears opening statements could begin on Monday, while attorneys wrap up jury selection this week.
As former Gov. Rod Blagojevich sat through the second day of jury selection for his retrial on federal corruption charges, many prospective jurors were expressing concern that serving on an extended trial could cost them their jobs, or in some cases, their homes.
Deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich took another chance to proclaim his innocence Thursday morning, as he headed to court for jury selection in his retrial.
As jury selection got underway Thursday in the retrial of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, U.S. District Judge James Zagel questioned 22 potential jurors, eventually excusing or dismissing half of them from the jury pool.
In stark contrast to the first trial, the first day of former Rod. Blagojevich's retrial started quietly on Wednesday at the Dirksen Federal Building, with all of the action taking place behind closed doors.
Many shoppers were heading to stores on Friday for post-Christmas sales, following the momentum from a robust holiday shopping season.
A family in Zion is putting their life back together after they lost everything in a Christmas Eve house fire.
A Bensenville man is accused of trying to kidnap a Jewel-Osco employee with special needs while she was at work.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Friday marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, and Malcolm X College in Chicago is holding a free, public celebration and marketplace from now until Jan. 1.
The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families that was modified in 2022.
Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Pope Leo XIV has revealed he privately urged Gov. JB Pritzker not to sign a bill legalizing medical assistance in dying in Illinois.
President Trump invoked a law called Title 10 to bring members of the Illinois National Guard under federal service over the objections of state and local leaders.
A new report shines a light on electricity shortages that Illinois could face in less than 10 years.
With less than two weeks until Christmas, if you're sending gifts to people far from home, the deadlines to get them there on time are fast approaching.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
Millions of people with an Affordable Care Act health plan face a massive jump in premiums next year — this chart shows just how much.
It's the holiday season, which means it's the most common time of year for norovirus to spread. Here's what you need to know about this winter stomach bug.
A study conducted in part by Chicago's Northwestern Medicine found that tanning beds not only triple the risk of melanoma, but can also damage DNA across nearly the whole skin surface.
An investigation into the case of a Michigan man who contracted rabies after an organ transplant provided more details on the infection's origin.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
The Chicago Bears are expanding their search for a new stadium to Northwest Indiana, even though they already own land in Arlington Heights and have also proposed a new lakefront stadium in Chicago.
A Culver's is coming to Chicago's South Loop, a real estate broker has confirmed.
A new vision for passenger rail is on track in southeastern Wisconsin. The MARK Passenger Rail Commission held its inaugural meeting on December 5, 2025, at Racine City Hall.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series "The Wire" and appeared in many other TV shows and movies, has died.
Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre is hosting "The Phantom of the Opera," and staff offered a firsthand look at the iconic chandelier inside the theater this week.
Many shoppers were heading to stores on Friday for post-Christmas sales, following the momentum from a robust holiday shopping season.
U.S. safety regulators have launched a probe into some Tesla Model 3 cars over the vehicle's door handles.
Johnson & Johnson has vowed to appeal after the company was ordered to pay $1.5 billion to a woman who claimed decades of exposure to their talcum powder gave her cancer.
President Trump says the U.S. launched "powerful and deadly" strikes against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
Another person has died after being injured in the UPS plane crash at the Louisville airport in November, bringing the death toll to 15.
A family in Zion is putting their life back together after they lost everything in a Christmas Eve house fire.
Many shoppers were heading to stores on Friday for post-Christmas sales, following the momentum from a robust holiday shopping season.
A Bensenville man is accused of trying to kidnap a Jewel-Osco employee with special needs while she was at work.
From gun safety to rogue towers, protection from squatters, medical assistance in dying and more, here are some of the most notable changes in the new year.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Cameras not working, video evidence missed by police and a psychic that leads a hit and run victim's son to a clue that changes the case
Some Chicago area hospitals are at risk of significant flooding both in and around the buildings, according to new KFF Health News/Fathom models.
Lawmakers in Springfield are looking to address the high water bills being reported in some suburbs from customers of Illinois American Water.
Electric bills in the Chicago area could go up as much as $70 in the next three years because of data centers, according to the Citizens Utility Board.
Advocates and legislators are seeking solutions and and accountability for a pattern of Chicago police arresting Black gun owners on firearms charges despite valid FOID and CCL licenses.
One year ago, the Chicago Bears were fighting for draft positioning. Now they've clinched a playoff spot in the first year of a new coaching regime.
As the 11-4 Chicago Bears prepare for their Sunday night matchup with the 11-4 San Francisco 49ers, one player earned an extra Christmas present from the league thanks to his impressive performance against the Green Bay Packers.
Travis Konecny scored and added his 300th career assist, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Blackhawks 3-1 and handing depleted Chicago its sixth straight loss.
The Bulls trailed 117-107 but closed the game on a 19-6 run.
Three Chicago Bears players have been named to the 2026 NFC Pro Bowl roster: safety Kevin Byard III, center Drew Dalman, and left guard Joe Thuney.
Three women were wounded in a shooting on Christmas night on Thursday in west suburban Aurora.
A woman was released on electronic monitoring Wednesday after authorities said she drove drunk and caused a crash that injured a family of four in Lombard, Illinois.
Multiple cars were broken into this week in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Four women have been charged with leading police on a high-speed chase after stealing from a retail store in the west Chicago suburb of Villa Park.
A woman has been charged with attacking four people at a CTA bus stop in the Lawndale neighborhood, including a woman she allegedly slashed with a broken beer bottle after threatening that woman's mother.
